Program guide system with real-time data sources

Abstract

A program guide system in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, etc. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of generating for display updated program listings data for a program, the method comprising:
 receiving program listings data for the program from a first data source and first keys generated at the first data source; 
 storing the program listings data for the program and the first keys in memory; 
 receiving real-time non-program listings data from a second data source and second keys generated at the second data source; 
 matching the real-time non-program listings data from the second data source with the program listings data stored in the memory by comparing the first keys with the second keys; 
 updating the program listings data stored in the memory based on the real-time non-program listings data; and 
 generating for display the updated program listings data to the user. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated program listings data comprises a score for a sporting event and an on-screen graphic associated with the sporting event, and wherein the on-screen graphic describes current events in the sporting event. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second data source comprises a database remote to the first data source. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating for display the updated program listings data comprises:
 generating for display a selectable option associated with the updated program listings data. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving a user selection of the selectable option; and 
 generating for display a media item based upon the user selection. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein generating for display the media item comprises generating for display a program associated with the updated program listings data, while the updated program listings data is generated for display to the user. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein generating for display the media item comprises generating for display a media listing for a program associated with the updated program listings data, while the updated program listings data is generated for display to the user. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated program listings data is generated for display in an on-screen menu overlaid on a program. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the real-time non-program listings data is associated with a live sporting event, and wherein the program listings data is updated in response to a change in a score of the live sporting event. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the program listings data is updated as the real-time non-program listings data is received. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated program listings data comprises an indicator for the real-time non-program listings data. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the real-time non-program listings data is a real-time media feed. 
     
     
       13. The method of clam  1 , wherein the second keys are generated at the second data source using a same algorithm as the first keys generated at the first data source. 
     
     
       14. A system for generating for display updated program listings data for a program, the system comprising a processor configured to:
 receive program listings data for the program from a first data source and first keys generated at the first data source; 
 store the program listings data for the program and the first keys in memory; 
 receive real-time non-program listings data from a second data source and second keys generated at the second data source; 
 match the real-time non-program listings data from the second data source with the program listings data stored in the memory by comparing the first keys with the second keys; 
 update the program listings data stored in the memory based on the real-time non-program listings data; and 
 generate for display the updated program listings data to the user. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the updated program listings data comprises a score for a sporting event and an on-screen graphic associated with the sporting event, and wherein the on-screen graphic describes current events in the sporting event. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second data source comprises a database remote to the first data source. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor configured to generate for display the updated program listings data is further configured to:
 generate for display a selectable option associated with the updated program listings data. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a user selection of the selectable option; and 
 generate for display a media item based upon the user selection. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor configured to generate for display the media item is further configured to generating for display a program associated with the updated program listings data, while the updated program listings data is generated for display to the user. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor configured to generate for display the media item is further configured to generating for display a media listing for a program associated with the updated program listings data, while the updated program listings data is generated for display to the user. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor configured to update the program listings data is further configured to generate for display the updated program listings data in an on-screen menu overlaid on a program. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the real-time non-program listings data is associated with a live sporting event, and wherein the program listings data is updated in response to a change in a score of the live sporting event. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the program listings data is updated as the real-time non-program listings data is received. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the updated program listings data comprises an indicator for the real-time non-program listings data. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the real-time non-program listings data is a real-time media feed. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second keys are generated at the second data source using a same algorithm as the first keys generated at the first data source. 
     
     
       27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions thereon for display updated program listings data for a program, the instructions comprising:
 instructions for receiving program listings data for the program from a first data source and first keys generated at the first data source; 
 instructions for storing the program listings data for the program and the first keys in memory; 
 instructions for receiving real-time non-program listings data from a second data source and second keys generated at the second data source; 
 instructions for matching the real-time non-program listings data from the second data source with the program listings data stored in the memory by comparing the first keys with the second keys; 
 instructions for updating the program listings data stored in the memory based on the real-time non-program listings data; and 
 instructions for generating for display the updated program listings data to the user. 
 
     
     
       28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the updated program listings data comprises a score for a sporting event and an on-screen graphic associated with the sporting event, and wherein the on-screen graphic describes current events in the sporting event. 
     
     
       29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the second data source comprises a database remote to the first data source. 
     
     
       30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions for generating for display the updated program listings data comprises:
 instructions for generating for display a selectable option associated with the updated program listings data. 
 
     
     
       31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions further comprising:
 instructions for receiving a user selection of the selectable option; and 
 instructions for generating for display a media item based upon the user selection. 
 
     
     
       32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions for generating for display the media item comprises instructions for generating for display a program associated with the updated program listings data, while the updated program listings data is generated for display to the user. 
     
     
       33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions for generating for display the media item comprises instructions for generating for display a media listing for a program associated with the updated program listings data, while the updated program listings data is generated for display to the user. 
     
     
       34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the updated program listings data is generated for display in an on-screen menu overlaid on a program. 
     
     
       35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the real-time non-program listings data is associated with a live sporting event, and wherein the program listings data is updated in response to a change in a score of the live sporting event. 
     
     
       36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the program listings data is updated as the real-time non-program listings data is received. 
     
     
       37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the updated program listings data comprises an indicator for the real-time non-program listings data. 
     
     
       38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the real-time non-program listings data is a real-time media feed. 
     
     
       39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the second keys are generated at the second data source using a same algorithm as the first keys generated at the first data source.